INDIA:&&MY&SECOND&HOME!A"Special"Invitation"from"Prof."Nathan"Katz"

February!16+!29,!2016!!

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India&is&known&for&yoga,&the&Taj&Mahal&and&mysticism.&But&what&you&may&not&know&is&that&it&has&a&long&history&as&one&of&the&most&hospitable&Jewish&homes&in&all&of&the&Diaspora.&!Jews!have!been!a!part!of!the!Indian!mosaic!for!millennia.!There,!they!have!excelled!in!the!professions,!government,!military!and!the!arts.!Always!free!to!practice!their!religion,!they!have!been!embraced!by!their!Hindu,!Muslim,!Christian,!Jain!and!Buddhist!neighbors.!&!As!a!scholar!of!Indian!religions!specializing!in!Asian!Jewry,!I!have!had!the!opportunity!to!live!in!and!travel!extensively!throughout!India!for!years.!Simply!put,!I!consider!India!my!second!home,!and!would!love!to!personally!show!it!to!you.!!!INDIA:&My&Second&Home!will!take!you!to!all!the!major!sights!in!the!metropolis!of!Mumbai!(Bombay),!the!quiet!port!of!Kochi!(Cochin),!the!“Pink!City”!of!

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Jaipur,!the!cosmopolitan!capital!of!Delhi,!and!mystical!Agra,!home!of!the!fabulous!Taj!Mahal.!!!

India!is!filled!with!history!–!and!that!includes!Jewish!history!!Jews!have!been!among!India’s!great!mystics,!taken!center!stage!in!Bollywood,!served!as!mayors!in!Mumbai!and!Kolkata!(Calcutta),!and!produced!the!country’s!greatest!military!hero!and!a!celebrated!EnglishRlanguage!poet.!You!will!have!the!opportunity!to!meet!and!interact!with!members!of!India’s!diverse!Jewish!communities!to!make!your!experience!come!alive.!!!!

The!itinerary!is!superb.!The!hotels!are!worldRclass.!!!

If!you!have!any!questions!about!INDIA:&My&Second&Home,!please!email!me!at!katzn18@gmail.com.!!!

If!you!wish!to!reserve!space!on!this!tour,!please!complete!the!reservation!form!below!and!send!it,!along!with!your!deposit,!to!Lotus!Tours,!2!Mott!Street,!Suite!400,!New!York,!NY!10013.!!!!!

Required!travel!document:!passport!valid!to!at!least!Sept!1,!2016.!A!taxRdeductible!portion!of!the!tour!cost!is!earmarked!for!the!Foundation!for!Remote!Jewish!Communities,!a!501(c)(3)!notRforRprofit!educational!and!cultural!organization.!

INDIA:&MY&SECOND&HOME!Visit!the!metropolis!of!Mumbai!(Bombay),!the!quiet!port!of!Kochi!(Cochin),!the!“Pink!City”!of!Jaipur,!the!cosmopolitan!capital!of!Delhi,!and!mystical!Agra,!home!of!the!fabulous!Taj!Mahal.!

Reserve&your&space&today&for&INDIA:&MY&SECOND&HOME,&2016&

SPECIAL!EARLY!BIRD!AND!FIU!DISCOUNT!Reserve!by!Sept.!16,!2015,!and!deduct!$180!per!person!off!tour!cost!

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR&“INDIA,&My&Second&Home”&|&February&16H29,&2016&

RESERVATION&FORM&(please'print)''

Please&reserve& &&&&&spaces&on&this&program&for:&&Name! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !!! ! !(attach&copy&of&your&passport)!

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Name! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !(attach&copy&of&your&passport)!

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Address! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

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City! ! ! ! ! !!!!!State! !!!!!!!!!!!!Zip!!! ! ! !!email! ! ! ! !

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Telephone!(day)! ! ! !!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!(eve)! ! ! !!!! !!!!!!!!!!(fax)! ! ! !!

!□!!I/We!will!join!the!group!flight!from!□!!New!York!!!!□!Miami!!!!!!!!□!!I/We!will!book!my/our!own!flight(s)!!!

!I/We!enclose!$! ! !(min.!$900!p.p.)!taxRdeductible!deposit!by!check,!payable!to!FRJC.!Please!complete!the!reservation!form!and!mail,!along!with!your!deposit,!to!Lotus!Tours,!2!Mott!Street,!Suite!400,!New!York,!NY!10013.!!!!Upon!receipt,!you!will!be!invoiced!by!Lotus!Tours!for!the!$1,100!tour!deposit!and!receive!detailed!instructions!and!information,!including!tax!receipt,!travel!insurance,!reading!list!and!visa!application!form.!For!more!information,!call!800R267R5414!or!email!info@lotustours.us.!

Reservations:!a!deposit!of!$900!per!person!is!due!on!application,!a!second!deposit!of!$1,100!is!due!Sep!16th,!balance!is!due!Nov!16th.!Visa!application,!travel!insurance!and!additional!information!will!be!sent!to!you!with!your!confirmation.!!Your&tour&hotels&are&chosen&for&their&service,&quality,&comfort&and&convenience.&Featured&hotels&include:&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Taj&Mahal&Tower,&Mumbai&&&&&&&&Vivanta&by&TajKMalabar&Hotel,&Kochi&&&&&&&&&&&&Jai&Mahal&Palace,&Jaipur&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&Taj&Mahal,&New&Delhi&

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INDIA:&MY&SECOND&HOME,&2016&

Complete&land&cost&includes&deluxe&accommodations,&all&meals,&tours&and&cultural&events,&plus&all&local&planes,&trains&and&catamarans&in&India&–&fully!escorted&throughout.&

$6,995&per!person,!double!occupancy!(single!supplement!$2,950)!

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Included&Features!• All!internal!flights,!train!and!boat!transportation!

inside!India,!per!itinerary!• 5RStar!deluxe!accommodations!in!airRconditioned!

rooms!with!private!bath,!double!occupancy!• All!meals!kosher!or!vegetarian!(special!buffet!

breakfast,!plus!lunch!and!dinner!daily)!!• Exclusive!programs!with!the!Jewish!communities!of!

Mumbai,!Navgaon,!Kochi!and!New!Delhi!• Memorable!visit!to!Kochi’s!historic!Jewtown!and!

Ernakulum!• Fascinating!cultural!events!and!getRtogethers!in!

each!city!• Sightseeing!via!chartered!airRconditioned!coach!

with!EnglishRspeaking!guides,!including!entrance!fees!

• Chartered!sightseeing!boats!in!Mumbai!and!Kochi!• Transfers!between!airports,!hotels!and!piers!by!

private!coach!• All!tips!to!national!guide,!local!guides,!drivers!and!

restaurant!staff,!all!hotel!taxes!and!services!charges!!

• Porterage!of!one!bag!per!person!!!!!!• India!visa!processing!(visa!fee!additional)!• Deluxe!tour!kit!including!India!guidebook!and!

luggage!tags!!

(Not&included:!International!airfare!to!Mumbai!and!return!from!Delhi!(special!group!airfares!available!on!request);!items!not!on!the!table!d’hôtel!menus;!purchases!from!hotel!miniRbars;!phone,!fax!and!internet!charges;!laundry!and!dry!cleaning;!and!items!of!a!purely!personal!nature).!

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!Dr.'Katz'and'Ms.'Goldberg'with'HH'the'Dalai'Lama!&

Your&tour&escorts:!!&

Dr.&Nathan&Katz,!Distinguished!Professor,!Emeritus,!at!Florida!International!University.!The!author!of!15!books!and!more!than!100!scholarly!and!popular!articles,!he!has!won!four!Fulbright!awards!for!research!and!teaching!in!South!Asia,!where!he!has!lived!for!more!than!seven!years.!!!Ellen&Goldberg,!a!Miami!journalist,!photographer!and!Jewish!communal!professional.!A!former!foreign!correspondent!in!India!and!Sri!Lanka!for!The'Christian'Science'Monitor,!her!photos!have!been!shown!in!Israel,!India!and!throughout!the!U.S.!!The!married!couple!coauthored!the!definitive!works!that!brought!India’s!Jews!to!light!in!the!western!world,!including!the!book,!The'Last'Jews'of'Cochin.!!

!ITINERARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!B=breakfast!!!L=lunch!or!box!lunch!!!D=dinner!!!(!!)!=!inflight!

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Feb&16,&Tue& Fly&to&India&

Board!your!widebody!flight!to!cosmopolitan!Mumbai!where!you!will!begin!your!tour.!!Feb&17,&Wed& Arrival&in&Mumbai&(Bombay)&

Arrival!this!evening.!After!entry!formalities,!you!will!be!met!and!transferred!to!your!seaRview,!kingRbed!room!at!the!Taj!Mahal!Tower!(or!similar).!Welcome!to!India!!!Feb&18,&Thu& Elephanta&Island& & Brunch,D&

Namaste.!After!a!leisurely!brunch!and!orientation!at!the!hotel,!travel!by!chartered!boat!from!the!Gateway!of!India!to!Elephanta!Island!where!you!will!learn!the!origins!of!Hinduism!and!Hindu!mythology!embodied!by!rockRcut!temples!dating!from!the!5th!century!–!a!fitting!introduction!to!India.!!Dinner!at!famous!Samrath!Restaurant!featuring!vegetarian!delicacies!of!the!region.!!Feb&19,&Fri& Mumbai&& & B,L,D!This!morning,!visit!the!Mumbai!Chabad!Center!(reopened!in!2014)!where!you’ll!learn!of!the!tragic!events!of!2008,!including!the!heroic!actions!of!the!Indian!nanny.!Your!city!tour!will!include!the!unusual!Hanging!Gardens,!a!Jain!Temple,!the!famous!Rajabai!Clock!Tower,!Flora!Fountain,!Sassoon!Library,!and!other!major!sights,!including!the!Dhobi!Ghat,!the!most!unique!outdoor!laundry!in!the!world.!This!evening,!Shabbat!services!and!dinner!nearby!at!the!19thRcentury!Keneseth!Eliyahoo!Synagogue.!Shabbat!Shalom!!&

Feb&20,&Sat& Shabbat&in&Mumbai& B,L,D!Shabbat!services!and!lunch!at!Kenesseth!Eliyahoo.!This!afternoon,!you!may!wish!to!join!an!optional!walking!tour.!This!evening,!you!are!invited!to!an!elegant!vegetarian!dinner!at!the!home!of!a!noted!Hindu!swami!India.!&

Feb&21,&Sun& Konkan& & & B,L,D&

Local!legend!has!it!that!when!Jews!were!exiled!from!Israel!2,200!years!ago,!they!came!to!India!and!were!shipwrecked!off!the!coast!near!Mumbai.!The!survivors!came!ashore,!kept!the!faith,!lived!in!interior!villages,!and!were!unknown!to!the!Jewish!world!for!2,000!years.!In!India,!they!were!known!as!Shanwar'Teli!or!“Saturday!oil!pressers”!because!they!would!not!work!on!the!Sabbath.!You!will!visit!the!monument!to!these!ancestors!of!the!Bene!Israel,!visit!their!village!and!have!lunch!in!a!Bene!Israel!home.!You!can!also!photograph!the!distinctively!pink!Magen!Aboth!Synagogue!in!Alibag,!said!to!be!the!original!settlement!of!

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the!Bene!Israel!Jews.!This!evening,!you’ll!be!hosted!at!a!memorable!dinner!at!the!JDC!(Joint!Distribution!Committee)!Jewish!Community!Center!of!Mumbai.!&

Feb&22,&Mon& Fly&to&Kochi&(Cochin)& B,L,D&

Fly!to!the!southern!seacoast!city!of!Kochi!where!you!will!walk!through!one!of!the!most!fascinating!and!happy!chapters!of!the!Jewish!Diaspora.!Transfer!to!the!Vivanta!Malabar!Hotel!(or!similar).!Kochi!is!history!!Hear!legends!of!the!Jews’!arrival!and!royal!welcome!as!early!as!2,000!years!ago.!You!will!visit!India’s!oldest!Catholic!church,!built!by!Vasco!da!Gama!in!1503,!and!walk!through!the!Palace!of!the!Maharajah!to!learn!how!he!saved!the!Jews!from!the!Portuguese!500!years!ago.!Kochi’s!fabled!synagogue!has!a!Hebrew!clock!tower!and!a!jewelRencrusted!gold!Torah!crown,!a!gift!of!the!Maharajah.!See!and!learn!about!the!original!copper!plates!that!established!a!Jewish!kingdom!in!the!early!11th!century!!Be!sure!to!mail!a!postcard!from!Jewtown!–!it’ll!be!imprinted!with!a!Star!of!David!cancellation!stamp!by!the!post!office.!The!International!Pepper!Exchange!is!also!in!Jewtown,!so!don’t!be!surprised!if!you!smell!the!pungent!aromas!of!spices!wafting!through!the!streets.!Dinner!with!a!member!of!the!Kochi!royal!family.!!&

Feb&23,&Tue& Kochi&–&fly&to&Jaipur& B,L(D)&

Cruise!the!inland!waterways!of!Kochi!to!see!rice!paddies,!fish!farms,!the!area’s!bustling!harbor!and!ancient!Chinese!fishing!nets,!still!in!use!today!and!which!you!can!try.!Visit!Ernakulam’s!Kadavumbagam!Synagogue,!whose!origin!dates!back!to!the!13th!century,!and!learn!about!its!history!from!a!Jewish!community!member.!Visit!a!Hindu!temple,!shop!for!local!handicrafts,!and!savor!the!fragrant!spices!of!the!nearby!market.!Later!this!afternoon,!fly!to!Jaipur,!the!capital!of!Rajasthan.!You’ll!be!met!and!transferred!to!the!Jai!Mahal!Palace!Hotel!(or!similar).!!Feb&24,&Wed& Jaipur& & & B,L,D&

Experience!an!elephant!ride!at!the!Amber!Fort,!tour!the!ghostly!Palace!of!Winds!and!walk!on!an!ancient!astronomical!observatory,!accurate!to!this!day!and!designed!by!a!child!prince!!Afternoon!visit!to!an!artist’s!studio!(handmade!paper!or!blockRprinting!on!fabric)!with!time!at!leisure!to!explore!on!your!own!or!experience!an!Ayurvedic!massage,!if!you!wish.!Evening!program!at!the!local!Jain!temple,!followed!by!vegetarian!dinner!in!a!Jain!home.!

!ITINERARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!B=breakfast!!!L=lunch!or!box!lunch!!!D=dinner!!!(!!)!=!inflight!!

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Feb&25,&Thu& Jaipur&–&fly&to&Delhi& B,L(D)!Enjoy!a!heritage!walk!and!free!time!so!you!can!shop!for!Rajasthan’s!famously!magnificent!jewelry,!ceramics,!fabrics!and!other!regional!handicrafts.!LateRafternoon!flight!to!India’s!capital.!CheckRin!at!the!Taj!Mahal!Hotel!(or!similar)!in!the!city’s!embassy!district.!!Feb&26,&Fri& Delhi& & & B,L,D!New!Delhi!has!magnificent!museums!and!beautiful!Hindu!temples.!Sightseeing!includes!the!12thRcentury!Qutab!Minar,!the!Parliament,!and!17thRcentury!Red!Fort.!Take!a!rickshaw!ride!through!the!teeming,!narrow!lanes!of!the!old!city.!Visit!the!Gandhi!Memorial,!as!well!as!the!tomb!of!Sarmad,!Jewish!patronRsaint!of!Indian!poets!and!intellectuals.!We’ll!visit!a!Tibetan!monastery!and!learn!about!the!Dalai!Lama’s!“Jewish!secret.”!Shabbat!services!and!dinner!at!Judah!Hyam!Synagogue,!within!a!short!walking!distance!of!the!hotel.!You!will!meet!the!presentRday!Jewish!community!of!New!Delhi!this!evening.!!Feb&27,&Sat& Shabbat&in&Delhi& & B,L,D&

Shabbat!services!at!the!Synagogue,!followed!by!lunch!at!Gulati’s!vegetarian!restaurant!within!short!walking!distance.!Optional!afternoon!walking!tour.!Dinner!and!night!tour!of!Delhi.&&

Feb&28,&Sun& The&Taj&and&more& B,L,D&

Board!your!express!train!to!Agra!this!morning.!Visit!the!UNESCO!World!Heritage!site!Fatehpur!Sikri,!the!ghost!city!of!palaces!and!unique!desert!architecture,!and!join!the!search!for!the!lost!synagogue!in!the!emperor's!palace.!After!lunch!at!the!charming!Zorba!the!Buddha!Café,!visit!the!timeless!Taj!Mahal.!Built!by!Shah!Jahan!in!the!17th!century,!there!is!an!unknown!Jewish!connection!to!the!Taj!Mahal!and!you!will!learn!of!the!Jewish!influence!during!the!Moghul!period!in!India.!Dinner!at!Dasaprakash,!Agra’s!most!popular!vegetarian!restaurant,!followed!by!a!performance!of!classical!music!and!dance.!Overnight!at!the!5RStar!Hilton!Doubletree!(or!similar).!!

Feb&29,&Mon& Agra&–&New&Delhi&& B,L,D!

You’ll!visit!Agra!Fort,!a!fortress!built!of!red!sandstone!in!the!16th!century!by!Emperor!Akbar.!This!afternoon,!return!to!Delhi!for!a!festive!farewell!dinner!where!Professor!Katz!will!summarize!the!Jewish!experience!in!India.!After!dinner,!transfer!to!the!terminal!to!checkRin!for!your!return!flight!to!the!U.S.A.!&

Mar&1,&Tue& Return&Home&

Arrival!in!the!U.S.!Welcome'home!! !

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TOP:'Torah'scrolls'in'the'Kochi'(Cochin)'Synagogue'

BOTTOM:'Keneseth'Eliyahoo'Synagogue,'Mumbai'(Bombay)'

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INDIA:!MY!SECOND!HOME!Lotus!Tours,!Ltd.!|!2!Mott!Street,!4/F!|!New!York,!NY!10013!Tel!:!800R267R5414!|!Fax!:!212R267R0940!Email:!info@lotustours.us!!All!images!by!Ellen!Goldberg!